Engine



July 25, 1933. c. F. BACHLE ENGINE Filed Oct. 26, 1931 INVENTOR. QTZ F 5ac7776 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED srA tree T CARL F. BACI-ILE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNQB TO CONTINENTAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CQRPORATION 01 VIRGINIA ENGINE Application filed October 26, 1931. $erial No. 570,992.

My invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to engines of the sleeve valve-type.

In engines of the sleeve valve type 1t is #1 generally customary to provide a cylinder head for each cylinder of the engine, this cylinder head generally constructed to depend within, the cylinder and spaced therefrom to provide a sleeve pocket for receiving the upper end of a suitable sleeve valve means. The combustion chamber is usually formed in the cylinder head and difiiculty has been experienced in engine structures of this character is properly sealing the sleeve pocket against the escape of gases from the combustion chamber resulting in loss of pressure and power and also resulting in the accumulation of carbon, rust and other nudesludge in the sleeve pocket.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved sleeve pocket structure for an internal combustion engine of the sleeve valve type which will effectively overcome the aforesaid difficulties.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved sealing means for the sleeve pocket which sealing means is capable of manufacture and assembly with the engine at relatively low cost and which will maintain an efficient operation over long periods of use.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved sealing structure for an engine of the sleeve valve type employing a re-entrant cylinder head spaced from the walls of'the cylinder to provide a sleeve pocket accommodating sleeve valve means by constructing a sealing element adapted to be sprung in assembly to produce radial pressure against the sleeve for providing an effective sealing of-the sleeve pocket during the engine power stroke.

F or a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form which my invention may assume, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical transverse sections view through a typical cylinder of an engine sirable substances generally referred to as.

of the sleeve valve type and showing my improved sealing structure associated therewith, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction.

I have preferably illustrated my invention with a sleeve valve engine of the single sleeve valve type which is generally known as the Burt-lfcCollum engine in which a single sieeve valve, usually operating between the depending cylinder head and cylinder is given a combined reciprocating and oscillat ing movement with respect to the cylinder and sleeve axes whereby any point on the sleeve traverses a closed path in perform ing the usual valving cycles of the engine.

In the accompanying drawing the illustrated embodiment of my invention shows an engine A having a cylinder 10 and suitable jacket portions 11 through which a cooling medium may be circulated. A cylinder head 12 is secured to the engine block and is proand exhaust ports 20 and 21. A piston 22 operates Within the cylinder and preferably within thesleeve valve means and is ada ted for connection with the engine cranks iaft (not shown) by means .of the usual connecting rod 2.

As stated in the introductory paragraphs of the specification, my invention is particularlyrelated to the means for sealing the sleeve pocket for preventing the escape of pressure an d the accumulation of undesirable sludge within the sleeve pocket. The sleeve pocket may be efficiently sealed by the employment of a yieldable cylindrical sleeve 25, this sleeve being preferably cylindrical and adapted for insertion between the depending portion 13 of the cylinder head and the sleeve v. lve means 15. This cylindrical sleeve 25 is preferably constructed of thin metallic material such as brass, or other suitable material of like characteristics and the same is preferably supported by an outwardly extending flange 26 that is adapted to overlap the top of the cylinder as illustrated in Fig. 1. The cylindrical sleeve 25 preferably depends adjacent to and in contact with the inner cylindrical wall of the sleeve and is preferably spaced from the depending portion 13 of the cylinder head.

It will be noted that this cylindrical sleeve is capable of movement radiallv outwardly with respect to the cylinder head for normally effecting a sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means 15. The lower edge of the cylindrical sleeve 25 is preferably turned inwardly to provide an inwardly extending flange 28 for a purpose which will be hereinafter made apparent. The lower portion of the re-entrant cylinder head 14 is preferably arranged to engage the inwardly extending flange 28, said head and sealing element being so constructed that on assembly of the cylinder head the lower portion of said re-entrant cylinder head exerts a. downward pressure on the lnwardly extending flange 28 and tends to spring the said sealing element. Thus the sealing element or liner is sprung in such a manner as to produce radial pressure against the sleeve to seal the sleeve pocket against the escape of gases from the combustion chamber.

In Fig. 2 the sealing element or sleeve 25 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 28 adapted to be engaged by the beveled portion 30 of the cylinder head 13 on assembly, thereby springing the element in a manner as described in connection with the construction illustrated by Fig. 1.

It will be noted that the lower portion of the sealing element or sleeve 25 preferably projects below the lower face of the re-entrant portion of the cylinder head and is subjected to any pressure developed within the combustion chamber of the engine, these pressures being developed during the power stroke of the engine. Thus the pressures developed during the engine power stroke act upon the lower port-ion of the sleeve 25 and tend to force the same radially outwardly thereby expanding the lower portion of the cylindical sleeve or sealing element'to further increase the pressure between the sleeve 25 and engine sleeve valve 15. This actlon provides a more effective sealing-engagement between the sealing element or sleeve 25 and the sleeve valve means 15 during the engine power stroke.

Experience has shown when operating engines of the sleeve valve type that the pressure loss due to ineflicient sealing structures for the sleeve pocket are more detrimental to the engine operation at low engine speeds than at high engine speeds. It has been found that the power loss at low engine speeds is quite excessive unless some means are provided for sealing the sleeve pocket efiectively. Many devices have been proposed for obtaining this result but such devices have been constructed to act throughout the cyclical events of the engine operation and thus the frictional losses were found to more than overcome the advantages gained by use of such sealing structures. In my device I provide a sealing structure in which frictional losses are maintained at a minimum due to the fact that the sealing element is urged into a more ellicient sealing engagement only during the engine power stroke, and when the pressure acting on said sealing element is relieved to some extent during the other cyclical events of the engine operation the friction between the sealing element and the engine sleeve valve is reduced to a minimum, thereby permitting the operation of the sleeve valve means with a minimum of frictional losses.

The construction as described and illustrated above provides for improved engine performance with a minimum of power loss throughout a range of engine speeds. Furthermore the structure shown in the illustrated embodiment of my invention can be economically manufactured and readily assembled with an engine of the character as specified above with a minimum of expense. Also, the structure as herein described may be readily serviced with a minimum of expense thereby providing an engine structure which will give satisfactory performancethroughout its life and due to the efficient operation of my device it may be noted that frequent removal of'carbon or sludge deposits in the sleeve pocket which necessitate the removal of the cylinder heads areunnecessary since my de vice is very effective in preventing such accumulations of sludge or other undesirable deposits within the sleeve pocket of the engine.

Although have illustrated but one form of my invention and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space pro vided between said structure and cylinder, a yielding sealing element associated with said structure for sealing said space, and non Zil springing same to produce radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

2. In an engine, a cylinder, a cylinder head structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element associated with said structure for sealing said space, said sealing element engaged by said head on assembly and sprung to produce radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

3. In an engine, a cylinder, a cylinder head structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element associated with said structure for sealing said space, said seal ing element engaged by a lower portion or" the re-entrant cylinder hear portion and sprung to produce radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

at. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and an expansiblc sealing element associated with said structure and adapted for engagement with said sleeve valve means for sealing said space, said structure including nonyielding means engaging said element on assembly to expand same and produce a radial pressure against the sleeve for sealing the sleeve pocket.

5. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion de pending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, an expansibl-e sealing element associated with said '5 structure and adapted for engagement with said valve means for sealing said space, said element having an inwardly extending fiang-e adapted to be sprung in assembl to produce a radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

6. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided I between said structure and cylinder, an exe pansible sealing element associated with said structure and adapted for engagement with said valve means for sealing said space, said element having an inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the cylinder head in assembly and sprung thereby for urgin g said element into a more effective sealing engagement with the valve means to seal said sleeve pocket.

7. In an engine structure having a cylinder,

a cylinder head structureclosing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced t'romth-e cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a sealing elementfer sealing said space and supported atits upper edge by said engine structure, and non-yielding means engagingthe lower portion of said clementior urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the valve means.

8. In an engine structure having a cylinder, a cylinder head structure closing the cylinder and having a .portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head structure and cylinder, and an expansible sealing element for sealing said space and secured at its upper edge to said engine structure, the cylinder head structure engaging the lower portion of said element to produce radial pressure urging said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagcment with the valve means.

9. In an engine, a cylinder, a structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, a sealing element for sealing said space and comprising an expansible sleeve supported intermediate said structure and said valve means, said str cture having a non-yielding portion engaging said slecve and adapted to spring same in assembly for expanding said sleeve and urging same into a more eiiectivc sealing engagement with the valve means.

10. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a sealing element associated therewith for sealing said space and provided with an inwardly extending flange underlying a portion of the re -entrant cylinder head. and adapted to be sprung by said head in assembly to urge said sealing element into a more effective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means.

11. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head. providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element associated therewith for sealing said space and provided with an inwardly extending flange adapted for yielding engagementwith said cylinder head in assembly to yieldingly urge said element into a more efl'ective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means. 12. An engine of the sleeve valve, type ,6: and

i the comprising in combination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from the cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element for sealing said space and having an inwardly extending flange, said element secured adjacent its upper edge to said cylinder, said cylinder head engaging the flange carried by said element and adapted to spring said element to radially expand same for producing a radial pressure against said sleeve valve means to provide a more efiective sealing engagement with the sleeve valve means.

13. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in con'ibination, a cylinder, a cylinder head providing a combustion chamber and depending within and spaced from cylinder, sleeve valve means operable in the space provided between said cylinder head and cylinder, a cylindrical sealing element for sealing said space and having an inwardly extending flange, said element secured adjacent its upper edge to said cylinder, said cylinder head engaging the inwardly extending flange of said element and adapted to spring said element to produce a radial pressure against said sleeve valve means to seal said sleeve valve means.

14:. In an engine, a cylinder, a cylinder head structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending within and spaced from the cylinder, Valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and a yielding sealing element supported within said space for relative movementwith said depending portion, said depending portion engaging said sealing element on assembly therewith to spring said element, whereby to produce radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

15. In an engine, a cylinder, a cylinder head structure closing the cylinder and having a portion depending Within and spaced from the cylinder, valve means operable in the space provided between said structure and cylinder, and. a yielding sealing element supported within said space by the cylinder for relative movement with the said depending portion, said depending portion engaging said sealing element on assembly therewith to spring said element, whereby to produce radial pressure against the valve means for sealing the sleeve pocket.

CARL F. BACHLE. 

